Not surprisingly, Greens MP Adam Bandt's inner-city seat of Melbourne is most in favour of gay marriage, with more than 65 per cent of voters saying they want legislative change.

This compares to only a third of voters in the western Sydney seats held by Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare and Treasurer Chris Bowen feeling the same way. Even the country Victorian seat of Indi, held by Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella, is more partial to gay couples marrying than the key NSW seats, with 49.2 per cent of voters supporting a shift.

The poll comes less than a week after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised a re-elected Labor government would introduce a bill to legalise same-sex marriage within 100 days of taking office, in a bid to capitalise on Tony Abbott's opposition to change.

And with three weeks before election day, hundreds of people attended an Equal Love rally in Melbourne on Saturday to highlight the issue — nine years after the Howard government created the current laws, which prohibit same-sex couples from marrying.

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Protesters marched from the State Library, across Collins Street, and to the registry office, where dozens of couples took part in a mass ''illegal wedding'' on the steps of Old Treasury.

Among the newlyweds were Ron van Houwelingen and Antony McManus, college sweethearts who have stayed together for 26 years.

Says Mr McManus, who wore a fetching red blazer: ''It means a lot to us. Our siblings have had the opportunity to be married. But it's a lot bigger than Ron and I. Whilst the government is sending a message that our relationship isn't as valid … it affects young gay youth who are struggling to come out when they hear the message that somehow their relationships are wrong. Gay youth are five times more likely to commit suicide so it's a vital issue, really.''

Mr van Houwelingen couldn't believe the couple were ''still'' fighting for the right to wed. ''Here we are nine years later … since the Howard government changed the Marriage Act and enshrined us as second-class citizens.''

The couple believe gay marriage will happen in Australia. ''I'm very optimistic,'' said Mr McManus. ''I feel it will happen in a year … I have to applaud Kevin Rudd for changing his position. He says he'll have a conscience vote and that's great.''

Landscape gardener Emmi Menzi, 24, and beauty therapist Jessica Peters, 25, from Shepparton, have been together for 18 months and are now engaged. They feel ready to get married. They have two little boys. ''When we told them we were getting married they squealed,'' said Ms Menzi.

The Greens and Labor candidates battling it out in the federal seat of Melbourne also attended the rally. Labor candidate Cath Bowtell said the ALP now had more candidates campaigning on gay marriage at this election than ever before. Mr Bandt told the crowd that legislative change wasn't ''a matter of if, but when.''

THE SUNDAY LINE-UP

The Question: Do you support same-sex marriage?

"I'm for same-sex marriage. Gay people are the same as us and it's unfair that people treat them differently.'' Shannon Stephens, 13, Diamond Creek

"I'm pretty much against marriage in all its conditions. I just don't think it's necessary. I think it's a religious overlay to something that has always been done socially. It's a great divider, too. Why gays want to be married is completely beyond me." Andrew Gemmell, 64, Moonee Ponds

"I think everybody has the right to choose. I don't agree with people telling others that they can't fulfil their dreams. It's not okay." Aaron Bailey, 37, Denmark (WA)

"If anyone wants to marry, they should be able to get married. I don't believe anyone should have fewer opportunities than anybody else. It's a form of discrimination. In years to come, people will look back at the current laws in shock-horror. It will be like laws that once kept Indigenous Australians from voting." Ross Cottee, 32, Carlton

"People in love should be able to do what they want, they should be able to marry who they want. It shouldn't be restricted by gender, just like it shouldn't be based on race or something like that." Charlie Collins, 18, Frankston South

"Yes, if people are more happy together, why not? It's up to them, anyway. If you don't want to, you don't want to. But if you do, it's nice." Raul Sepalueda, 65, Keysborough

"I believe that every human has equal rights and that love is equal. A man can love a woman, a woman can love a woman, a man can love a man. It's all the same thing. It's the same love. There's no difference in love, at all." Madeleine Osborne, 18, Dingley Village

"I think marriage should be a right for everybody. I think it's recognition of people's relationships and love. I don't think it has anything to do with politics or, as someone else said, the 'fashion of the moment'. Plus, I also have very close friends who are in same-sex relationships, and I think they should be welcome to that right." Denise Kelly, 31, Melbourne